Blog posts by NOSB

The April 7, 2015 deadline to submit comments to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is fast approaching! At the end of April, the NOSB will meet in La Jolla, California to review organic materials and standards. During this meeting they will review a substantial amount of materials, including copper and sulfur products for use in crop production, and gums and pectin for processing. Your operation may be affected!
There are two simple things you can do to help protect the integrity of organic standards:
1) Complete OTA’s Online Surveys
CCOF is working closely with the Organic Trade...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently announced its draft agenda for the spring 2015 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meeting to be held in La Jolla, California at the end of April.
That means it’s that time of year again! Time for you to share your story and help determine the path of organic agriculture. Prior to the meeting, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites the public to comment on what should be included and excluded in the organic standards. The NOSB—a committee of certified organic farmers, processors, and other...

Last week, several CCOF staff and members attended the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meeting in Louisville, Kentucky to share their expertise and weigh in on the future of organic standards.
The NOSB meets biannually to review organic standards and to determine what recommendations it will make to the National Organic Program (NOP) for future rulemaking. Members of the public are encouraged to attend these meetings because they have the opportunity speak and share their opinions on farming and processing inputs and practices.
CCOF also participated in the National Organic Coalition’...

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will meet October 28-30 in Louisville, Kentucky to review organic standards and to determine what recommendations it will make to the National Organic Program (NOP) for future rulemaking.
In preparation for the meeting, CCOF submitted nine public comments that address a range of topics such as soil conservation, GMO priorities, and crop and handling materials. CCOF’s comments are below – read more to learn more about CCOF’s recommendations to the NOSB and the value of certain topics and materials to organic production.
CCOF representatives will also...

October is full of events to help you grow your business. CCOF hopes you can attend and looks forward to meeting with you while we are on the road.
The Western Organic Dairy Producers Association (WODPA) will be hosting the 2014 WODPA Conference in Rohnert Park, CA from October 14-15. CCOF will have a table at this year’s event, so come see us!
GLOBALG.A.P. is offering a Crops Workshop and exam re-takes October 15-16 in conjunction with the PMA Fresh Summit 2014 in Anaheim, CA. If you are planning on attending PMA 2014, make sure you look into this workshop, as it provides an excellent...

Now is the time to share your story and help shape the future of organic. Two times a year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites all members of the public to submit comments on what the organic standards should include and exclude.
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)—a committee of certified organic farmers, processors, and other representatives—review the public comments. Then, the NOSB recommends changes and adjustments to the USDA.
The NOSB will meet this fall to review a number of materials and documents set forth in its meeting agenda, and members of the public...

Please complete the following surveys prepared by the Organic Trade Association (OTA).
The surveys compile information on crop and processing materials pending review before the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Your feedback on these materials is critical because it will help shape CCOF comments and testimony to the NOSB.
Background
NOSB advises the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on which substances should be allowed or prohibited in organic farming and processing based on criteria under the Organic Foods Production Act. Generally, synthetic substances are prohibited...

In an environment where Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and their derivatives are widely distributed throughout the food chain, it is imperative that organic producers and handlers have strategies and plans to keep them out. A key tenet of "coexistence" is shared responsibility for the exclusion of the methods and products of genetic engineering. The organic part of this shared responsibility is extensive already, but specific new guidance from the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) adopted by the National Organic Program (NOP) would make these practices more transparent to others...

In recent weeks we at CCOF have observed a variety of activities and discussions about organic certification and organic standards. In the week following the April National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meeting, the Accredited Certifiers Association issued a noteworthy letter supporting the USDA and NOP. See CCOF’s thoughts on the sunset process change when they were announced last fall.
At CCOF we believe that everyone is welcome to their opinions. We know that organic standards and certification systems are stronger and stricter than they’ve ever been. Our focus is making meaningful...

CCOF believes that organic livestock standards should require humane and ethical treatment of animals during all stages of production, including transport and slaughter. CCOF, consistent with our mission and principles, has long advocated for NOP standards that ensure outdoor and soil access.
In December 2011, the NOSB unanimously passed a recommendation on Animal Welfare and Stocking Rates that capped off several years of work on these subjects. The NOSB recommendations were consistent with CCOF and other organizations’ recommendations.
In June 2013, the NOP released a report on the economic...

The spring 2014 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) meeting will be held April 29 - May 2 in San Antonio, Texas. The NOSB will take up a slate of issues left over from fall 2013, when the meeting was cancelled due to lack of a federal budget. CCOF will be represented at the meeting by staff and board members. We expect an array of interesting discussions and hot topics. View the meeting agenda online.
CCOF will report back to our members on outcomes from the meeting. In the meantime, you can read CCOF’s comments on the various proposals and discussion documents below.
Streptomycin (...

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is the advisory committee that advises the Secretary of Agriculture on implementation of the Organic Foods Production Act. There are currently four seats open on the NOSB: environmentalist, organic producer, organic handler, and retailer with significant trade in organic products.
NOSB members are volunteers who represent the diversity of the organic community. They are appointed for five-year terms and are expected to attend meetings twice a year, participate in conference calls bimonthly or more, review materials on the National List of Allowed...

As a result of the government shutdown, the National Organic Standards Board meeting scheduled for October 22-24 has been cancelled. Stay tuned for further information. It is unclear if the fall meeting will be rescheduled or agenda items will be postponed until the next regularly scheduled NOSB meeting, which will be held in San Antonio, Texas, April 29-May 1, 2014.

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) last week posted a plan to update the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) material “sunset review” process to address a broken system that has challenged the organic community for some time. We believe that this proposal will break some of the existing regulatory logjam and allow the NOSB to focus on larger issues that matter to organic consumers and producers.
Sunset review allows for periodic reassessment of the NOP National List, which provides for exceptions to the prohibited use of synthetic substances in organic production when specific...

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) met April 9-11 in Portland, Oregon. NOP Deputy Administrator Miles McEvoy reported on the many activities of the National Organic Program (NOP) in the six months since the last meeting. Recent activities include work on the previous NOSB nanotechnology recommendations, international agreements, and aquaculture standards. Proposed rules in progress include origin of livestock, final rule on sodium nitrate, and apiculture standards. Guidance documents still to come this year include grower groups, inspector qualifications, responding to results...